Muratie Hercules du Preez Cabernet Franc 2022

Hercules du Preez feels like an honest expression of Stellenbosch’s granite-soiled hills — by hand-harvest, gently fermented, and matured slowly to preserve both fruit and sense of place. On pouring, it reveals dark berries, plum and blackcurrant, layered with hints of cedar wood, graphite and that leafy, slightly herbal green-pepper edge so typical of Cabernet Franc. As it opens, more subtle spice, earthy undertones and a mineral-tinged core emerge, giving depth beyond pure fruit. The palate is balanced and structured: moderate alcohol, taut acidity and fine-grained tannins frame the fruit and allow the wine to breathe and evolve. The finish is long, savoury and clean: cherry–plum fruit fades into cedar, tobacco leaf, and a quiet slate-like minerality. It’s a wine that rewards patience — good now, but one that will age gracefully over several years.

Muratie’s sixth owner from 1743-1748 brought a fair dose of French flair to the farm, something that is reflected in the refinement of this distinctive wine. Unlike his father, a short-tempered man who was a feared militiaman and leader of the movement against hated Governor WA van der Stel, Hercules the Third had a calm, composed demeanour. He was the first South African-born owner of Muratie who could read and write (French and Dutch) – writing poetry and practising calligraphy were some of his favourite hobbies. After an eventful childhood with his father’s involvement in political tumult, the younger Hercules enjoyed Muratie’s restful way of life and was active in the church as a deacon.